It’s no secret that Apple is working on the iOS 26.4 update. In fact, the company has already released three beta versions of iOS 26.4, which introduced many new features, including RCS encryption, an AI-powered Playlist Playground in Apple Music, Stolen Device Protection, and more. All the features introduced in the beta versions are expected to be included in the final stable iOS 26.4 update unless Apple discovers a last-minute bug.
In this article, you will find all the features that are expected to arrive in the upcoming iOS 26.4 update.
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iOS 26.4 update: Here’s what you should expect
Here’s the list of all the major features you should expect in the upcoming iOS 26.4 update:
1) Stolen Device Protection
This special protection mechanism was first introduced in the Beta 1 release. It essentially adds a one-hour security delay to sensitive actions, such as changing your Apple ID password, turning off Find My, and more, when you are away from your usual locations, like home or work. This makes it significantly harder for bad actors to unlock or erase your iPhone, especially if they know your passcode.
2) AI-powered Playlist Playground in Apple Music
Apple Music is one of the most popular music streaming platforms, but some users report it still trails Spotify in playlist suggestions. Apple aims to address this with a new AI-powered feature called Playlist Playground. It uses text prompts, such as keywords describing a mood, vibe, genre, era, activity, or specific ideas, to automatically generate a curated playlist of 25 songs. The feature was first introduced in iOS 26.4 Beta 1.
3) Concerts Near You
A new “Concerts Near You” section will appear in Apple Music, showing upcoming live shows and tour dates for popular artists you frequently listen to or have in your library. This feature will pull in event details and help with ticket planning. It was first added in iOS 26.4 Beta 1.
4) Advanced Video Podcasts Podcast Capabilities
Switching from video podcasts to audio will feel absolutely seamless with this update. It was first introduced in iOS 26.4 Beta 1. If you’re going to be on the road for a while, you’ll even be able to download podcasts for offline viewing later.
5) End-to-end RCS Encryption
Apple added RCS in 2018 with the release of iOS 18, but it didn’t include Apple’s end-to-end encryption. The current RCS implementation relies on standard encryption. Testing for end-to-end encryption in RCS began in iOS 26.4 Beta 1, but it was fully enabled in Beta 2.
With this feature, all your messages sent via RCS will be protected with end-to-end encryption from your device to the recipient’s. Essentially, the entire transmission will remain fully encrypted until the recipient unlocks their phone to view the messages.
6) Ambient Music Widgets
The iOS 26.4 update will allow you to play soulful melodies or any mood-based relaxation playlists directly from the new Ambient Music widgets. First added in Beta 1, you will be able to add different Ambient Music widgets for each mood: Sleep, focus, relaxation, and more.
7) Health Updates
With the iOS 26.4 update, the Health app will show average bedtime data, blood oxygen levels, and other data collected over the last 14 days. Added in Beta 1, it allows users to monitor and spot any unusual activity that may have happened in the last few days.
8) Wallpaper Gallery
The wallpaper gallery section in the Settings app will be redesigned in the iOS 26.4 update to provide a cleaner and more organised UI. Some wallpapers won’t even be pre-installed and will download on demand when users click on them. This helps save on storage.
All of the features above are based on what Apple has released in the most recent beta versions. The company may release Beta 4 before launching the stable iOS 26.4 update. If that happens, expect additional features to be included in the final update beyond those listed above.
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Edited by Suraj Bhowal
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